George F. Canyon Nature Center and Trail

This review is for the trail as I have never been in the nature center.
The center itself is on the corner of PV Drive E and PV Drive N. It has a small parking lot, but I have never had trouble finding parking.
If you are looking for a kick butt, exercise hike, this will not be for you, but I urge you to try it once just because of how pretty the trail is. It’s a great escape for those that live in the area.
The hike itself is about 2 miles, 1 mile out, 1 mile back. It’s pretty flat except for the very end which has a semi-​steep hill, then ends in residential area. (You turn around and go back now)
It’s not a hike/​trail I would use often, but if you live in the area and don’t feel like going far, or are recovering from an injury preventing you from going on more strenuous hikes, or want to introduce people to hiking, this would be a great trail to pick.
It’s also dog friendly! Just make sure to pick up after your dog. There are a couple trash cans on the trail to dump it in.

A nice and easy hike. Great for beginners. And… horse poop almost everywhere, so watch out. Some are fashioned nicely into an easily avoidable structure while others a little spread out and/​or sprinkled on the trail or trampled over making it a little harder to avoid. But overall a light and enjoyable hike!

Went hiking on this trail this morning and it was a great hike. I brought with me my mother, she was a beginner hiker and she enjoyed it. It starts off on a flat trail and as you go on, you will start seeing inclines, towards the end of the trail, there will be a steep uphill but my mother being a beginner hiker she was able to do it.
I also like how there are a lot of benches you can sit on to do your water break or to just relax. It was a very quiet hike, there are a couple of hiker here and there.
Overall, it was a great hike! I suggest you try this hike. HAPPY HIKING!

Very nice hiking trail! They have horses on the trail so of course that means horse poop but not smelly at all and very interesting hike. Has nice spots for pictures and has that real nature feel. Not busy at all, went on a Saturday around 11am to take some pictures and just a few locals not packed at all. Saw a couple beautiful horses along the way.

Dear Miss Penny,
I loved meeting you today. You are a beautiful & graceful girl. You’re also curious & friendly.
When you began flicking your tongue at me through the glass of your cozy enclosure, you won me over in a big way.
I was unable to give my full attention to the other wonderful exhibits at the nature center because I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.
I was so happy to hear that the nature center attendant takes you outside into the sunshine, because I was concerned you might feel like a prisoner. The fact that you don’t try to run away when you’re outdoors says a lot. Well… you don’t have legs or feet, it’s true… but I think maybe you like certain humans.
You sure did seem to like having your picture taken. You’re a true LA woman, I love it!
I was very impressed to learn that you eat rattlesnakes. I wished I could take you on my hike through the nature preserve as protection.
Truth be told, I was just dying to pick you up, hold you and touch you.
I didn’t see any rattlesnakes on my nature walk, by the way. I saw two rabbits, a crapload of lizards, and one ginormous bumblebee. And birds. I didn’t complete the trail. I hadn’t eaten all day & it hit me about halfway that I had to turn around and go get food.
Speaking of food, I put 5 bucks in the donation box to buy some mice for you. I was told they cost $ 1 each, so there’s a few meals on me.
Your caregiver is amazing. I was so focused on you, Miss Penny, that I forgot to ask his name. But he knows everything about anything to do with nature, that’s for sure.
You’re lucky to have him looking out for you, what a delightful young man.
I’ll be back soon to visit you, Miss Penny. Maybe I’ll complete the walk (can’t call it a hike) up that peaceful trail while I’m there. I forgot all about my troubles when wandering along the path through the trees on such a perfect spring day.
I’ve known some snakes in my day, Miss Penny, referring to the creepy human kind. You’re the first King snake I’ve met. And in more ways than one, my dear, you rule.
Until we meet again…
Hugs & tongue kisses,
Joan

This trail is good for a quickie hike on colder winter days. Unlike a lot of the other trails around PV, this one is less windy and more cozy. It has enough elevation to give me a mini workout. It took me about 45 minutes to complete. Yes, I agree with other reviewers about the abundance of horse manure on the trail but it didn’t bother me too much.

The trail has easy access, and a parking lot at the trailhead. I hike a lot around PV and RPV. This trail is easy, with a steeper section at the end. On a weekday it’s idyllic. quiet with only the sounds of birds and breeze through the leaves, and sometimes there’s no one else around. Unlike other local trails, this one has a lot of foliage so there’s plenty of shade when you want to stop and rest. Benches are dotted along scenic points of the trail. Today I saw 4 raccoons, squirrels, countless butterflies and many types of birds including a circling hawk. On weekends the visitor center is open and if you’re interested in indigenous flora and fauna, it’s very informative. Warnings for poison oak are posted, but i hardly saw any and it didn’t encroach on the trail. Perhaps small children running off the trail and into the wooded area might have an issue. There’s a small stream with a great spot for bird viewing. I feel lucky to have this trail so nearby.

My roommate suggested I go here since I’m new to the area and the trail is so close by and easy to find. She was right about it being easy to find, which is what the 1 star is for. Compared to most of Los Angeles, Rolling Hills Estates is quite serene and natural. Obviously that’s why all the rich people live there. LOL
This trail sucked. Maybe it’s because I’m from Colorado and have become accustomed to the abundance of challenging, breathtaking trails in the Rocky Mountain/​Boulder region. 3 Sisters Trail in Evergreen, CO — now that’s quite a hiking experience!
I absolutely could not stand this trail.
I’ll set the scene for you: I went hiking with my 8 year old son and our 3 dogs. There was poison oak as well as horse poo everywhere. I was nervous about the poison oak because we were all dressed in shorts and short sleeves. The dogs were nosing around everywhere (duh, they’re dogs), which made me extra nervous about the poison oak and the possibility of fleas.
The trail is for extreme beginners because my son complained it was too easy and was wondering where all the cool hills were. It was indeed easy. I didn’t break a sweat the entire time. It’s more like a nature walk for 3 year olds.
Like I said, maybe we had a problem with it because we’re Coloradoans… We don’t have excessive bugs, easy trails, or an abundance of poison oak in CO.
I would love if someone can suggest a trail that would be more suited for us.

Five stars for the Nature Center and helpful volunteers there. Subtract four stars for the danger on the trails.
So I head up the trail with my spouse and two kids (9yr, 6yr) and see a man on horseback leading a second horse coming towards us. We’re twenty feet away and easily step off the trail to let them pass. There are signs «suggesting» that hikers give way to horses. Annoying, but I get that.
Coming back downhill from the short hike, we had a very close call with two riders coming up fast around a blind curve. The path was only about three feet wide at this particular section. The first rider looked like a teen on a lesson and gave out a little Unilocal while suddenly slowing her horse. This was only five feet in front of us as we jumped off the trail (right into poison oak.) And what if the young rider’s reaction was a second or two slower ?
We are experienced hikers and know to share the trail. Worrying about fast runners or bicyclists is one thing, but jumping off trail from an oncoming 1,000 lb galloping horse is infuriating. An earlier reviewer mention a similar occurrence. With a riding stable right across the street, this most likely happens every day.
The scenery or difficulty of the trail became irrelevant. Too bad.

I came here spontaneously with a couple friends. One of my friends had just moved to the area, and we were exploring the hidden goodies of PV and San Pedro. I was all unprepared for the outdoors: cute little moccasin flats and a fancy coat. Luckily for me, this lovely trail is not so much a hike as simply a chance to admire the canyon, the quiet, the smells of nature, and the thick green foliage. It can get kind of muddy in some spots and it gets a little steep at stops 10 – 12, but it is otherwise a very peaceful and relaxing stroll. There were people around, but not enough to disrupt the peacefulness. Joggers, doggies, girlfriends, couples, a guided tour (yes the nature center does those too)… it’s definitely a hike that kids could do too, but I didn’t see any that day. (keep in mind that the more… unruly… kids might need some close supervision because there is a lot of poison oak around and you don’t want them running into a bush)
The lady we met in the nature center was extremely informative and very passionate about the trail, as well as about nature in general. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I’d definitely come here again next time I want to enjoy a couples miles of quiet wilderness.

Roughly eight months ago I moved «up the hill.» To this day the furtherest I’ve ventured is the Ralphs five minutes down the way, but when it comes to this trail I seriously have no excuse. It’s my backyard. Literally. To get there I park in my driveway and hoof it down there. Ridiculous me.
So, after making plans time and time again to go and end up not going (including a UYE I think), I finally didn’t make plans. I got off work on time and made it home with hours before dark, so I decided now or never, and off I went.
Now, I’m not completely oblivious to the fact that living things are out in nature, and in order to take a nature hike you will probably be in close proximity to said things, but I’m also not oblivious to the fact that I freak out and ignorance is bliss. So enter mistake number one: ignore the «beware of» sign, so I’m not focused on what to beware of. Now, there is a little stop at the very beginning of the trail where you can grab an information pamphlet that has a list of numbers that correlates with numbers on the trail and give info on what is in front of you. Good stuff. Unfortunately, maybe it was the wrong season because only I saw two or three of the ten or eleven things it was attempting to point out; however, I owe my life to this little point of interest situation. Now I know I exaggerate sometimes, but seriously. The trail is maybe five feet across? Not very wide, and so when there was a cutout into the trees to go read a point of interest sign, I left my narrow trail. After a minute of reading I started to head back towards my narrow path of death when I heard *gadadump gadadump gadadump* WHAT THE? Now any seasoned PVer may already know what it is just from my poor attempt at reproducing the sound, but not this girl. I froze, just slightly off the path, when a man on a horse came plowing down the path at a full speed gallop. He yelled out a sorry as he flew by, but what if I was on the path with nowhere to go! There were poison oak signs everywhere! My choices are get run over by a huge horse or get thrown into the poison oak? Grrr.
I carried on and decided to let it go. Although now my mind had retreated to the place it used to go when I was five and scared of the dark. Enter mistake number two: As you may have noticed, I keep saying I, me, my because you guessed it, I was alone. How thick am I? Now, no, this isn’t the temple of doom trail, but any trail by yourself isn’t clever. So by now I’m freaking out at every little bush rustle or movement in the corner of my eye. Okay, retreat. According to my phone, I made it ¾ of a mile, so almost to the top, but not quite. Next time. I calmed down on my way out and started to enjoy my surroundings. One of the houses off the hill up above was playing some Dave Matthews, and that also made the return trip a little more peaceful.
The trail is really a hidden gem squished in the middle of the South Bay. My only disappointments were the lack of interest at the interest points and the fact that at almost all times you could still see houses from the trail.
This is more of a «what not to do» I suppose. As I came off of the trail I read the «beware of» sign, and sure enough it told me to beware of horses. Brilliant.

I found myself in the middle of this gorgeous canyon when I googled nature trails in Rolling Hills Estates. I don’t know much about the area and was curious to check this place out.
I didn’t spend more than a few seconds in the nature center. We were curious to check out the Stein/​Hale Nature Trail. The lady warned us about the Poison Oak found along the brush. This plant is very common at the park and it is advised to appreciate it at a distance.
The trail is about 1 mile in and 1 mile back. Wow what a calm, peaceful way to enjoy nature in the middle of a hectic city. We walked along the dirt paths and came across many observation views. They had a few muddy ponds and a bridge to see birds. The only birds I saw was a small black one and a hawk of some sort. We only heard the birds and the bees NOTHING ELSE. It was very relaxing.
Signs say you might see a variety of animal tracks. You might see the prints of a bob cat, rabbits, a racoon, a horse. Yes, we saw many horse hooves in the mud. We also saw deep holes in the ground. I hope those are mice holes and not rattlesnake homes!
Many locals came on this beautiful afternoon. We saw a lady enjoying a good book, a couple exploring the trails, and a mom with her daughter and fat lab. For a minute, I thought a fat lab was a breed. haha.
At marker 10, the trail gets very steep. Especially where the mud was. At marker 12 (at the top) you can see all of Palos Verdes and other cities. It was kind of smoggy. Perhaps you should visit after the rain. haha.
The nature center is located on the corner of Palos Verdes Drive East and Palos Verdes Drive North. The center is open Friday 1−4pm. Saturday & Sunday from 10am-​4pm.
Some tips you may want to keep in mind:
1. Beware of poison oak and rattlesnakes (just now found that out)
2. Stand aside while horseback riders pass
3. Keep your dogs on a leash
4. No smoking or picnicking
5. Observe from a distance, stay on trail.
Thank you Carlos K. for being my nature companion!
Enjoy the pictures :)